Kingston News, February 22, 2018

Bridge Funding

Work should begin on construction of a new bridge over the Cataraqui River in the second half of next year.

Kingston and the Islands MP Mark Gerretsen announced the federal government’s 60 million share of the funding for the 3rd Crossing yesterday morning at Kingston City Hall.

The Ontario government had already agreed to provide $60 million for the project.

The City of Kingston will be on the hook for the rest of the total cost…expected to be more than 180 million dollars.  Mayor Bryan Paterson says the two lane bridge over the river will be the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken by the city.

Nuisance Party

Kingston’s nuisance party bylaw won’t be in place for St. Patrick’s Day after all.

Kingston City Council approved the bylaw at its meeting on Tuesday night…but it has to be approved by the Ontario government before it can be enforced.

The city says that will take at least two months…meaning police won’t be able to use the new bylaw to break up street parties on St. Patrick’s Day…Saturday, March 17th.

Queen’s – Cybersecurity

Queen’s University says its goal is to have 80% of full time faculty and staff complete an online Cybersecurity Awareness Course by the end of this year.

Queen’s says universities are often vulnerable to cyberattacks because of the vast amounts of valuable research and financial information they own.

Faculty and staff completing the course will be tested to see if they can avoid being phished by identifying and reporting a spoofed e-mail.

Death Threat

A 22-year-old Kingston man has been arrested after threatening his wife with death if she tried to leave him.  Police say it happened during an argument over money on Tuesday night.

Police say the woman was able to safely get away from the man and went to a family home to contact police.

The man has been charged with assault and uttering threats to cause death.

Stolen Smokes and Gas

A 32 year old Kingston man has been charged with stealing cigarettes twice in one day and stealing gas for a stolen vehicle.

Police got a report about the theft of cigarettes and loose tobacco from a store on Sydenham Road around 11 in the morning on Tuesday.  A witness got the vehicles license number.

At about 4:30 Tuesday afternoon…police were called after a men stole gas and cigarettes from a convenience store on Highway 15.  Police stopped a stolen vehicle coming off the 401 at Division Street.  The man faces charges of theft, possession of stolen property, attempted to break into a residence and breach of probation.

SMITTY’s -Easter Seals

Pancakes have helped raise almost $5,000 for Easter Seals Kids.

SMITTY’s Family Restaurant donated all off the proceeds of its pancake special on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of last week and staff donated all their tips on Shrove Tuesday.  The restaurant and staff raised $4,766.15 for Easter Seal Kids.

Rogers K-Rock Centre – 10^th Anniversary

There’s a special anniversary in Kingston today – but it will be celebrated quietly.

From Tony’s Today in History File…It was on this day in 2008 that the K-Rock Centre opened with the Kingston Frontenacs playing the Belleville Bulls.  Don Cherry dropped the puck.  Kingston lost 3-2.  The next night The Tragically Hip performed the opening concert.

Today…Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson and the former mayor Harvey Rosen will attend a private event.

The Glorious Sons play an anniversary show Saturday night and a public open house for the Rogers K-Rock Centre’s 10th anniversary takes place on Sunday.